Things to do in Stonehaven: Explore the coast on a paddleboard
- Paul Squire
- Apr 4
- 4 min read
One of the things I was excited about as I imagined living on Stonehaven Harbour was the opportunity to learn to paddleboard. I’d done it a couple of times on family holidays I the past, and I was OK at it. Well, I managed to stand up! But the amount of time between attempts meant I always felt like a beginner. Making it a regular fixture in my life was appealing, and we couldn’t be better located to make the dream a reality.
Botany Bay, located at the southern end of Stonehaven Harbour, is designated as an area for recreational activities including wild swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, etc. and it’s only about 100 meters from Shorehead Guest House. I figure it’s close enough to stroll down in your swimmers and a suitable covering without offending too many people. It’s also enclosed by the cliffs on one side and the harbour walls on the other which protect it from the worst of the elements, creating an ideal pool to learn in.
On Wednesday morning, I took the next step in my paddleboarding journey by heading out with two other intrepid explorers to join Dave, the owner of Stonehaven Paddleboarding and main instructor, on his first outing of the year (with paying customers). After fighting our way into our winter wetsuits (5mm thick on the body / arms, 4mm thick on the legs) and listening to a remarkably short briefing session, we carried our boards and paddles down to the water’s edge filled with nervous anticipation.
The over-arching reaction from people when mentioned I was thinking about venturing into the North Sea at the beginning of April has been that I must be “off my head”. The main concern seems to be the temperature of the water and the resulting impact on parts of my body. However, I’m happy to report that the wetsuits were highly effective. I even took a dip before we headed out to reduce the chance of any major shocks, but the full body suit and boots provided more than enough protection. If anything, I felt like I was overheating under my buoyancy aid.
We all rapidly turned theory into practice and got onto our boards, initially in a kneeling position to build some confidence before attempting to stand. The inner harbour was almost flat calm so the initial challenge was overcoming our own fear and associated tension. After a couple of laps of Botany Bay, Dave led us along the headland and towards the open sea… and Denmark. As we got more exposed, things got a bit more interesting and I took my first unplanned dip, followed in quick succession by my second and third!
When conditions got more challenging, we reverted to kneeling. This was essential as we headed across the next bay and experienced a bit more of a swell (but still a long way from proper waves!). I was surprised at the distance we travelled, particularly for a beginner’s session, and the amount of nature in such close proximity. The more there was to see, the less I found myself thinking about the act of paddleboarding, and the easier it got… until it wasn’t (I fell in several more times!). As we weaved in and out of rock formations, spied on seabirds preparing to nest and navigated caves, I had fleeting moments when I felt like I knew what I was doing.
Dave was a fantastic guide and coach throughout; he calmly allowed us to learn at our own pace with no pressure or expectations. In all, we spent about 90 minutes on the water. To top it off, I spent a few minutes in “Driftwood”, an Estonian style wood-fired sauna in a converted horse box located adjacent to the beach which was an enjoyable experience all of its own.
It was a little tiring but thoroughly invigorating. The buzz stayed with me for the rest of the day. I would highly recommend!
Now I’ve been once, I’m keen to head out again (once I’ve fully recovered from the physical exertion of the first outing!). Stonehaven Paddleboarding supplies top-of-the-range equipment for all of activities including Inflatable Board, Paddle, Wetsuit, Boots, Buoyancy Aid etc. They also offer several different ways to explore the coastline in the area:
Beginner’s Lesson (Duration: 1.5hrs)
This is an essential to progress and to participate in any of my other activities. Giving you all the skills and information you need to keep you safe!
Dunnottar Castle, Caves & Coves Tour (Duration: ~3hrs)
On this tour you'll explore the amazing coastline between Stonehaven and Dunnottar Caste. Dramatic Sea Cliffs, Caves, Coves, Waterfalls and paddle below the breath-taking Dunnottar Castle. There is an abundance of wild life to spot – Seals, Sea Birds and maybe even a Dolphin.
The Grand Tour (Duration: ~4hrs)
A truly awesome trip down the coast from Stonehaven to the spectacular cliffs of the RSPB nature reserve Fowlsheugh which are home to more than 130,000 breeding seabirds during the spring and summer months, including puffins, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars. Other wildlife that frequent this coast which you may spot on the way are Seals, Dolphins and Minky Whales. The tour takes you past Dunnottar Castle and explores the Caves and Coves along this dramatic coast. To top it all, you’re then taxied back to Stonehaven by speedboat.
Find out more at: https://shpb.co.uk/
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